Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period
… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11).
… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)
… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)
… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size and duration.

Is ‘The Big One’ next? California was shaking again Tuesday, with six earthquakes of 3.5 or greater

Kristin Lam USA TODAY•July 17, 2019

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake shook the eastern San Francisco Bay area at 1:11 p.m. Tuesday.

Four minutes later, a magnitude 4.5 quake hit near Ridgecrest, which, earlier this month, was rattled by a pair of massive temblors, including the most powerful shaker (a magnitude 7.1) to strike California in 20 years.

And, then, at 1:24 p.m., the Bay Area felt another rumble, this time a magnitude 3.2, again centered near Blackhawk, an unincorporated community east of Oakland. It was originally reported as a magnitude 3.5.

Does this mean “The Big One” is coming? Don’t panic, the U.S. Geographical Survey cautioned.

“This specific sequence of earthquakes – the ones in Ridgecrest and the ones in Blackhawk – are not indicative that ‘The Big One’ is coming,” said Rafael Abreu, a geophysicist with the USGS National Earthquake Information Center in Colorado.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries after any of Tuesday’s quakes.

Were the earthquakes connected? 

No. The earthquakes near Blackhawk are a different set from the aftershocks following the 7.1 Ridgecrest event on July 5, Abreu said.

They also occurred near different fault lines. About 270 miles lies between the centers of the quakes in northern and southern California. 

Ridgecrest: Earth is still rumbling, but worst should be over for California quakes

The Ridgecrest quake occurred near the Little Lake fault zone, according to USGS maps. Geophysicists recorded the Blackhawk quakes near the Greenville fault zone. Neither are connected and both have a slip rate of 1 to 5 mm a year. 

By comparison, the San Andreas Fault, which serves as a tectonic boundary between the North American and Pacific plates, moves more than 5 mm per year. California has gone past the average time between large earthquakes along the San Andreas, leading some to say the area is overdue for a massive temblor. 

Is California experiencing an unusual number of earthquakes? 

This is all normal, according to the USGS.

“We’re having quakes exactly where, geographically speaking, we’d expect these quakes to happen,” Abreu said. “And we’re having the amount of earthquakes we’d expect to see.” 

In terms of magnitude and number of quakes, Abreu said the Ridgecrest sequence has actually decayed faster than expected, but the variation isn’t unusual for the geological setting. 

Four other quakes registering magnitude 3.5 or greater occurred in the Ridgecrest area Tuesday: one in the early morning, one in the afternoon, and two at night.  

What are the aftershock predictions? 

Northern California has a 4% chance of one or more earthquakes stronger than magnitude 4.3 over the next week, the USGS said. Smaller earthquakes are likely over the same time period, with up to five magnitude 3 or higher aftershocks predicted near Blackhawk. 

‘I hope this is not the end’: Trona, California, was trying to bounce back. Then an earthquake hit. Then a bigger one.

For the Ridgecrest sequence, the USGS last updated its predictions on Monday. Geophysicists recorded 524 magnitude 3 or higher earthquakes and five magnitude 5 or higher earthquakes since July 5. The first group are strong enough to be felt while the second can do damage. 

For the current predictions, visit the USGS’s information pages on the Blackhawk and Ridgecrest earthquakes.